A one-of-a-kind guide to birding locally that encourages readers to slow down and notice the spectacular birds all around them.

Many birders travel far and wide to popular birding destinations to catch sight of rare or "exotic" birds. In Slow Birding, evolutionary biologist Joan E. Strassmann introduces readers to the joys of birding right where you are.

In this inspiring guide to the art of slow birding, Joan Strassman tells colorful stories of the most common birds to be found in the United States - birds we often see but might not have considered deeply before. For example, Northern Cardinals thrive in the city where they are free from predators. White-brows on male White-Throated Sparrows indicate that he is likely to be a philanderer. This essential guide to the fascinating world of common, everyday birds features:



• Detailed portraits of individual bird species and the scientists who have discovered and observed them
• Advice and guidance on what to look for when slow birding so that you can uncover clues to the reasons behind specific bird behaviors.
• Bird-focused activities that will open your eyes more to the fascinating world of birds.

Slow Birding is the perfect guide for the birder looking to appreciate the beauty of the birds right outside their door, observing keenly how their behaviors change from day to day and season to season.

Joan Strassmann has been a slow birder for decades. She is an award-winning teacher of animal behavior, first at Rice University in Houston and then at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is Charles Rebstock professor of biology. She has written over 200 scientific articles on behavior, ecology, and evolution of social organisms, including many publications in Science and Nature. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the Animal Behavior Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has held a Guggenheim fellowship. She lives with her husband in St. Louis, Missouri.